Train-stop system.



Patentd Feb. 15,1916.

L. A. GLADDING 611. H. SULLIVAN.

TRAIN SYTOP SYSTEM APPLICATION mwocr. 10. 1913..

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earns Pena orrion.

LOUIS A. GLADIDING AND JAMES H. SULLIVAN, OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

TRAIN-STQP SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15 1916.

Application filed October 10, 1913. Serial No. 794,411.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Louis A. GLAD- DING and JAMES H. SULLIVAN, citizens of the United States, and residents of Newport, in the county of Newport and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Train-Stop System, of which the i following is a full, clear, and exact description. I

This invention relates to a train stop system of that type in which the propelling power is cut off and the brakes set when a train passes a signal set' to danger position, when a drawbridge is open, when two trains are within a danger Zone of each other, and other conditions under which accidents, collisions or the like are likely to occur.

The invention has for its general objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of systems of the character referred to so as to be reliable and efficient in use, comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to install and maintain in use, and so designed'as to involve no radical departure in the use of the present throttle or controller and air brake devices, while at the same time permitting the throttle, con troller and air brake valve of the locomotive to be manually operated as usual, but susceptible of automatic operation under the emergency conditions above referred to.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a simple, effective and'novel means for releasing the throttle lever tocut off the steam'supply to locomotive cylinders in the case of a steam locomotive, or release the controller so as to shut ofi" the flow of current in the case of an electric'locomotive, and'for operating the engineers brake valve to set the brakes.

Another object of theinvention is the provision of a train stop system in which conductors are arranged along the track at suitable points and adapted to be connected with sources of current either automatically or manually so that when a trolley, shoe or equivalent device on a train engages a conductor, current will be completed under emergency conditions through a circuit consisting of the track rails, source of current and conductor, whereby the power of the invention comprises various novel features of construction andarra-ngement of parts suchas will be set forth with'particularity in the following description and claims appended hereto. I

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts mall the views, Figure 1 is a side view of an electro-magnetically operated device for releasing the latch of the throttle lever of the locomotive; F ig.-2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an interior view of a locomotive cab showing the throttle and engineers valve with the controlling means therefor; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the throttle lever of the locomotive. I On roads where the locomotives are of the steam propelled type the throttle lever 1, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 1, is equipped 'with an electrically-operated controlling device A which is adapted to actuate the handle 2 of the throttle lever latch device so that the throttle will be released and moved automatically to a position for closing the throttle so that the powerwill be cut off. The throttle lever is provided with a spring 3 which tends to cause the lever to close the throttle valve whenever the controlling device A is actuated by the flow of current therethrough under emergency conditions of trafiic. The throttle lever is provided with a latch 4 which is adapted to engage with a fixed toothed sector 5 to hold the throttle lever in any desired position, and when this latch is released by the actuation of the latch lever 2, the throttle will automatically close. The controlling device A consists of an electro-magnet 6 suitably carried by the throttle lever l. The armature 7 of the electro-magnet carries a finger 8 which engages and tilts'a lever 9 fulcrumed at 10, Fig. 2, on a bracket 11 carried by the throttle'lever 1. The lower end of the lever 9 extends over the latch handle 2 and throws the latter toward the throttle lever, as indicated by the arrow at the lower end of the lever 9, Fig. 2, whenever the'finger 8 moves upwardly with a of the lever 9. When the magnet 6 is deenergized the finger 8 is in its lowered position so that the lever 9 will not interfere with the holding function of the latch mechanism of the throttle lever, but when the magnet is energized, the lever 9 actuates the latch handle 2 so as to permit the throttle lever to close the throttle valve.

In order to arrest the movement of the train after the power is out off, but not too abruptly, an automatic controlling means is provided for the engineers valve of the air brake system. As shown in Fig. 3, the engineers valve C on the upper end of the outlet standard 20 of the train pipe carries an actuating or controlling device D for the handle 21 of the engineers valve, such device including an electro-magnet 29 for releasing the handle to permit the engineers valve to move automatically to air-released position whereby the air escapes from the train pipes and permits the brakes to set.

As shown in Fig. 3, the electro-magnets of the controlling devices A and D for the throttle lever and engineers brake valve are connected in series by a wire 3% and are connected by a wire 35 with the frame of the locomotive to the axle or some other part, whereby the magnets will be grounded on the track rails. lhe magnets are connected by a wire 85 with a trolley wheel or other collector 86, there being a cut-out 87 of any suitable character in the wire The trolley wheel 36 is carried by a short post or equivalent support 88 on the top of the locomotive cab, and the'wheel is adapted to have a running contact with conductors 89 located at desired points along the railroad track, such conductors being connected by feeders with sources of current. l Vhenever emergency conditions exist, current flows through the magnets and causes the throttle valve to be closed and the air brakes to be gradually set.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. the advantages of the construction and method of operation and of the system show will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while we have described the principle of operation, together with the system which we now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, we desire to have it understood that the system shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a train stop apparatus, the combination of a controlling lever for throwing on and off the propulsion power, a latch device including a movable member adapted to be grasped when the handle of the lever is grasped, for permitting the lever to be manually operated, a device acting on the lever with a tendency to throw the same to powerofl position, a bracket on the lever, an operating lever pivotallyv mounted on the bracket and engaging the member, and electromagnetic means carried bv the controlling lever and having a movable element engaging the second-mentioned lever to operate the said member to release the latch device.

2. In a train stop apparatus, the combination of a lever for throwing on and off the power, means tending to move the lever to off position, a latch device for locking the lever in any desired position and including a grip member arranged adjacent the handle portion of the lever, in combination with a lever fulcrumed on the controlling lever adjacent the handle portion thereof and normally engaging the grip member of the latch device, an armature having a portion wiping against the last-mentioned lever for actuating the grip member of the latch device, and an electromagnet mounted on the controlling lever at a point inwardly from the handle portion thereof for operating the armature.

3. In a train stop system, the combination of a throttle lever, means tending to move the lever to throttle closing position, a latch on the lever, a toothed sector with which the latch engages to hold the lever in throttle open position, a handle for operating the latch, an electromagnet on the lever, an operating lever mounted on the throttle lever to operate the said handle for releasing the latch from the tooth sector, and an armature actuated by the magnet for moving the said operating lever to latch releasing position, and a circuit for the magnet adapted to be closed under emergency conditions of traffic.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS A. GLADDING. JAMES H. SULLIVAN.

Witnesses SYDNEY D. IIARVEY, MILDRED I. IVYA'm.

Copies of this patent may be ob ained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

